To the Working Mom

Thank You

To all the working moms of the world I want to say thank you. It is something that is not said enough. You are Superwomen who don't get the praise that you deserve. 

To all the moms who wake 45mins early to nurse/pump before starting the day, I say thank you. 
To all the moms who wake before everyone else to iron your clothes (and your husbands) before showering and waking the masses, I say thank you. 
To all the moms that are waking sleepy babies early to get the ready for school/daycare, while getting your self ready, I say thank you.
To the moms packing lunches, diaper bags, book bags, and briefcases while fixing breakfast (and trying not to get food on your freshly ironed clothes), I say thank you. 
To the moms that are handing granola bars and to the back seat on the way to school then work, while drinking lukewarm coffee, I say thank you. 
To the moms who drive past their children's schools and honk, while running to the bank, the post office, the office supply store, the contractors office, and the job site, hoping your kids will hear it and know its you saying "hello, I love you", I say thank you. 
To all the moms who spend their lunch break pumping, or running to the pharmacy or grocery store, or parent/teacher conferences,  I say thank you. 
To the moms who run home to settle your kids and throw a frozen casserole in the oven before heading out the door again to a committee meeting, I say thank you.
To the moms that pause if only for a few moments to listen to their children replay their day at school, while trying to cook dinner and do homework, I say thank you.
To all the moms, who are cleaning the bathroom while bathing your children, I say thank you.
To all the moms, that are laying out tomorrows clothes while helping your kids into their pajamas, I say thank you.
To all the moms who read one more story or watch 5 more mins, wishing you had just a few more hours to spend with your babies, I say thank you. 
To the moms who load the dishwasher and clean the kitchen after the kids fall asleep, I say thank you. 
To the moms who stay up late to do one more load of laundry, I day thank you. 
To all the moms, that can't take the dream vacation because you burned all your days off when your kids had the stomach bug, I say thank you.
To all the moms who's Saturdays and Sundays are just as busy as every other day of the week, I say thank you. 
To all the moms work bring work home to finish after the kids are asleep, I say thank you. 
To all the moms who double check car pool schedules and arrange for sitters and make sure kids get to where they need to be even when you can't be there, I say thank you.
To all the moms who's hearts break when you can't sign up to volunteer for your child's class party or field trip, I say thank you.
To all the moms who pray that time would slow down so your kids won't grow up so fast, I say thank you. 
To all the moms who are working to make ends meet, I say thank you. 
To all the moms who are tired and worn out from 18 hour days, I say thank you.
To all the moms who hold it all together.
I say thank to all the women who are showing our daughters that even though we don't get the credit, we make the world go round. 
I say thank you to all the women who are creating a way for our families futures to be bright. 
Your children may not know the sacrifices you make to provide for them, they may not fully understand why mommy can't always play. But one day they will thank you. Until then,  I say thank you.
YOU ARE MAKING THE WORLD A BETTER PLACE AND YOU ARE DOING AN AMAZING JOB!!!!!

Spending "quality" time together at the laundry mat, just trying to get it all done.

For all the days when you leave the house knowing this is what you have to come home to.

For the mornings when you want to crawl back under the covers with them. 

Thank you to all the working moms.

The two R words

Since our Daughter was about 20 months old, her health has revolved around 2 R words Relapse and Remission. In October of 2010 she was diagnosed with Nephrotic Syndrome, a disorder of the kidneys. After 9 months of steroids and multiple Relapses, her Doctor decided it was time for a kidney biopsy. In June of 2011 she had her biopsy. The result was that she had "Minimum Change Disorder + Cortico Steroid Dependent". Meaning that she had the "good" kind of Nephrotic Syndrome but her body doesn't create enough steroids on its own. So, instead of continuing to give her steroids on a daily basis.(They have horrible side effects) We changed her over to an imuno- suppressant/ anti rejection drug to trick her body into making her kidneys work. And, For a year it did. In July of 2012 she was given Remission status!!!!

Let me go back for just a minute, While on the immune suppressing medicine our little girl had to be kept in quarantine, so to speak. We didn't go to preschool, church, indoor play areas, we sanitized grocery carts, and didn't go anywhere where she might get sick. She was at such a high risk for getting sick, given she had no immune system due to her medicine. Any fever over 101.1 was a trip to the hospital for IV antibiotics and observation. We only experienced one hospital stay while she was immune suppressed and it was enough to confirm our decision to keep her away from germy kids and places. Luckily, she didn't have any kidney issues during this episode.

So when the Doctor gave her Remission status, we were elated! He told us to stop giving her her medicine and that she was able to go to school, church, ect. Being concerned parents we didn't want to put her at risk for getting sick and relapsing, by throwing her back into the world, so we started slowly. We did Wed. Night church and we started gymnastics. Both of which she loves!

Hazel loves gymnastics.

After about a month of being "back to normal". Our little girl got a stomach virus. Now, she has had other colds, stomach bugs, and viruses but, none with fever and they came a went without effecting her kidneys. The last stomach virus did her in. After 9 days of vomiting and diarrhea, we saw that she was leaking proteins again. Proteins in the urine are the first sign of a relapse. We called her nephrologist, and took her into see him. He found that not only was she leaking proteins and relapsing but she was slightly dehydrated from the virus and she was admitted to the hospital.

So here we are at square one again. Our 3 year old is getting albumin infusions and IV fluids and antibiotics. They're putting her back on the steroids in hopes that she will respond and her kidneys will quit leaking proteins. But no long term plan yet. I just hate having to wait and see. After 3 day sitting in the hospital everyone is ready to go home and our boys are ready for us to be home. We are so blessed that Mimi is willing and able to come help us with the boys. Hopefully the Wonderful Doctors and Nurses here at the Children's Hospital can get her well and home soon.  With any hope she'll be back in Remission soon too.

Waiting for the Doctor was exhausting.

Making the best out of a not fun situation.

Trip to the Zoo

 Back in May we decided to take the kids and my 12 year old sister to the zoo. We had been traveling every weekend to see family and staying locked up at home during the week. Most night Bill wouldn't get home until after the kids had gone to sleep. So we thought a trip to the zoo would be a great way for us to spend time together.  Hazel has been to the zoo several times with my mom and I but never with her daddy, so she was really excited to show him all the animals. Will had been last summer but he was only 9months old then so he really couldn't enjoy it like he did this time. 

Dad holding Will up to see the Elephants

Aunt Emma and Hazel with the Elephants

On this particular trip to the zoo the zoo was PACKED. It was the first Saturday after all the area public school let out for summer and it was also a cool day for May.  With Will and Jacob in the double stroller and Hazel running at full speed we made or way through mobs of kids to the bears, the birds, the kangaroos, through the monkey cave and into the Gorilla house.  With each new animal Hazel and Will grew more and more excited. Bill and I tried to explain to them what each animal was and what they ate and whether they lived in a tree, on the ground or in a cave. Needless to say, they weren't interested in what we were saying, they just wanted to see the animals.

Hazel showing us how the giraffes eat leaves

Hanging out in the Monkey Cave

By the time we made to the Reptile and Bird Houses they were moving faster than we could keep up. The penguins had Will squealing in delight every time they dove in the water. He was practically yelling SNAKE at every station in the reptile house. The albino alligator gave us an exciting open mouth hiss. By the time we got through all the exhibits they were finally starting to slow down. They talked about the animals at the zoo for days. We are hoping to make another trip back to the zoo in the fall when the temperatures are below 106.

Penguins in the Bird House

Alligator hissing

3 months later

The kids and me at my mom's on Mother's day.

Well one thing I've learned in the last three months is that raising 3 children is way more time consuming than raising two. How Stay At Home Moms that raise multiple kids and blog on a regular basis is something I have yet to figure out. I'm so grateful for their ability to pass on their trick of the trade to moms like me.  I'm still trying to figure out how to balance taking care of all the babies and taking care of the home. I have also discovered that having a baby in late spring means lots of traveling with a newborn.  Since Jacob was born in April we have been to 2 funeral, 2 birthday parties, 2 family reunions, celebrated 4 holidays, 1 trip to the zoo in Columbia, multiple trips to Atlanta and countless trips to Mimi's new house in the country. Needless to say our "new" Suburban has a lot of "new" miles on it.  All the while we've been trying to maintain some since of organization and schedule when we're at home. If you bare with me I'll try to catch you up on all our families fun, adventures, and lessons learned.

And Then There Was Three!

IT'S A BOY!

    The newest member of the Parker Family has arrived.  Jacob Ashley was born April 7th, weighing 7lb 13oz and sporting red hair.  After weeks of nesting, waiting and praying for our baby to arrive, he is finally here and life couldn't be more beautiful. It's been so busy, and yet so wonderful watching our family adjust to having a new baby in the house. Hazel (3) is smitten with her new baby, she enjoys carrying diapers to the trash and fetching Jacobs paci for me. From time to time I'll find her sitting on the couch or bed next to him when he's propped in his boppy just rubbing his hands or feet.  Will (19 months) on the other hand is fascinated with his new little brother in a whole different way. He wants to poke him in the nose, swing his swing a little faster and love a little rougher than he should. Will is having a hard time understanding that Jacob isn't a toy. 

  We were lucky to have daddy home with us for the first week. He was a big help in running interference with the bigger kids while mama was feeding Jacob. It made keeping things "normal" for the whole family a lot easier. I have to say I was very sad when he had to go back to work, but I had to learn to handle the house and the family on my own during the day eventually.  Two days later and the house, the kids and myself are all still standing. I don't know if it really is easier or if I have just shifted into "super" mode, but adjusting to life with 3 kids seems to be easier than it was adjusting to 2. Maybe it's because I now have two toddlers up and running around and I have to get up and get moving whether I got 6 hours of sleep or only 3. Whatever it is that's driving me our house hold is running smoother than it was before the baby. 

Our first week home with Baby Jacob has been full of fun and laughter, and sprinkled with tears and tantrums but all in all its been a blessing. I can't wait to see what new memories that we will make as a family of five.

Hazel (3) Will (20 months) and Jacob (2 days). "Trying" to take an Easter picture.

Jacob

We're the Parker's, a family of five. We spend our days exploring the world around us, learning new things, growing our bodies, hearts and minds. With 2 preschoolers and a toddler, every day is full of wonderful surprises and learning experiences. We looking forward to sharing all the fun and excitement of how we're growing Parker's with you as we grow and learn each day.